Ashtray construction



Feb. 27, 1968 J. [.188 ETAL 3,370,820

ASHTRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 25, 1966 United States Patent 3,370,820 ASHTRAY CONSTRUCTION Jules Liss, New York, and Martin Liss, Brooklyn, N.Y. (both of 1671 McDonald Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11230) Filed Aug. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 574,979 1 Claim. (Cl. 248-311) This invention relates generally to the field of portable ashtrays adapted to be selectively engaged upon tubular members forming outdoor furniture pieces, and more particularly to an improved embodiment thereof which may be conveniently positioned in a large number of locations, and rotationally adjustable after installation.

Many ornamental ashtrays are formed with other than cylindrical outer walls, in the interests of providing an attractive device. Difiiculty has been experienced in providing proper mounting means for such devices whereby the same may be supported for pivotal adustable movement about an axis which is not at right angles to the outer surface of the ashtray. This problem has arisen principally where the tray element comprising the device is one of a large number of attractive designs, none of which are suitable for resilient attachment to a piece of furniture.

It is therefore among the principal obects of the present invention to provide improved mounting means whereby an ashtray having peripheral side walls of other than cylindrical configuration may be conveniently mounted upon portions of tubular furniture for rotational ad ustment about a substantially horizontal axis.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved mountable ashtray in which the cost of fabrication may be of a reasonably low order, with consequent wide sale, distribution and use.

A further object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved mounting means which will maintain a given degree of adjustment by frictional means.

Still another object of the invention lies in the provision of an improved mountable ashtray which may be conveniently attached and detached from an article of furniture as desired using only ordinary skill, and with a total absence of tools of any kind.

A feature of the disclosed embodiment lies in the unusually attractive appearance of the mounting means.

These objects and features, as well as other incidental ends and advantages, will more fully appear in the progress of the following disclosure, and be pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawing, to which reference will be made in the specification, similar reference characters have been employed to designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation of an embodiment of the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof, partly in section.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen from the plane 3-3 in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view in perspective of a bracket element forming a part of the disclosed embodiment.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view in perspective of a spacer element forming another part of the disclosed embodiment.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character It is illustrated in FIG URES 1 to 3, inclusive, in installed condition upon a gen erally vertically disposed tube 11 forming a part of a furniture piece (not shown). As is well known in the art, there are many forms of outdoor furniture formed from bent aluminum tubular construction, or similar steel construction, and the device is adapted to be mounted in any 3,370,829 Patented Feb. 27, 1968 of a plurality of locations where a generallyvertically disposed tube is available. Owing to the rotational adjustment feature described hereinbelow, a horizontally disposed tube segment may also be employed as a mounting support. The device 10 comprises broadly: a tray element 12, a resilient bracket element 13, a spacer element 14, rivet means 15, and a resilient washer 16.

The tray element 12 is preferably of molded synthetic resinous construction, although drawn metal construction is also suitable. As best seen in FIGURES 1 to 3, inclusive, it includes a bottom wall 17 having a cylindrical downwardly extending rim 18, and an angularly disposed frusto-conical side wall 19. The wall 19 includes an outer surface 20, an inner surface 21 and an upper rim portion 22 having the usual indentations 23 therein for the retention of cigarettes, and the like.

The bracket element 13 is preferably formed from a single piece of spring steel, and is bounded by an upper edge 26, a lower edge 27, an inner surface 28 and an outer surface 29. A medially disposed member 30 is provided with a centrally disposed orifice 31, and interconnects with first and second resilient members 32 and 33, respectively, at bend portions 34 and 35. The members 32 and 33 include outer portions 36 and inner portions 37 joined by bend portions 38 and 39. From a consideration of FIGURE 2, it will be apparent that by moving the tube 11 into the interstice formed between the bend portions 38 and 39, the resilient members 32 and 33 are spread apart permitting the tube to pass to the position shown in FIGURE 3, the tube is resiliently maintained by the members 32-33. Removal requires merely pressure in a reverse direction, again spreading the portions 38 and 39 to a point where the tube 11 is released.

The spacer element 14 is preferably formed by injection molding using a suitable synthetic resinous material, and is of irregular configuration as best seen in FIGURE 5 in the drawing. The element includes a generally planar, rectangularly shaped main body portion 41 bounded by first and second planar surfaces 42 and 43, respectively, as well as edge surfaces 44, 45, 45a, and 46. Extending laterally from the lower corners 47 are lower corner projections 48 and 49. At the upper corners 50 are upper corner projections 51 and 52, preferably joined by a web 53 of material. It will be observed that the projections 51 and 52 project laterally a distance greater than the projections 48 and 49. A central opening 54 extends between the planar surfaces 42 and 43.

Assembly of the device 19 includes the positioning of the respective elements as shown in FIGURE 3, wherein the spacer element engages the outer surface and rim of the side wall 19 in such manner that the upper projections 51 and 52 overlie the rim 22, and the lower projections 43-49 contact the outer surface 20. Depending upon the convergence angle of the outer surface, the length of the lower corner projections 48 and 49 can be adjusted to allow the outer surface 43 to lie parallel to the principal axis of the tray element 12. The resilient washer 16 is positioned between the spacer element and the bracket element, following which the rivet means 15 is inserted through the aligned opening in each of the elements 12, 13, 14 and 16 and headed over in well known manner. This operation will serve to compress the washer 16 such that the planar surfaces thereof will be in frictional contact with the outer surface 29 of the bracket element 13 and the surface 43 of the spacer element 14. By virtue of the positioning of the spacer element with respect to the tray element, the axis of the rivet means 15 will be substantially perpendicular to the principal axis of the tray element 12, so that where the bracket element 13 is installed upon a vertically disposed tube 11, the tray element will assume the orientation shown in FIGURE 1.

3 Should the tubell lie in other than a vertical position, the tray element 12 may be rotated about an axis through the rivet means 15 with respect to the bracket element 13, and against the frictional resistance provided by the washer 16 to a desired location. Upon release of the tray element, the frictional contact between the Washer 16 and the tray and bracket elements will cause the tray to retain the imparted adjustment.

We wish it to be understood that we do not consider the invention limited to the precise details of structure shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains.

We claim:

1. In a self-supporting ashtray construction for selective resilient attachment with a tubular member, the improvement comprising: a tray element having a substantially frusto-conical peripheral wall, said wall including an upper rim portion and an outer surface; a resilient bracket element including means for engaging said tubular member, said bracket member having a through opening therein; a spacer element having a generally planar main body member of rectangular.configuration, and having first and second sets of projections extending laterally outwardly of the plane of said planar member, resilient washer means, and fasten-ing means 'genetrating said tray element, bracket element, spacer element and washer; whereby the projections on said spacer element engage the outer surface and rim portion of said tray element, and said washer element is positioned between said spacer element and said bracket element to permit relativerotation between said tray element and said bracket element.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

R. P. SEITTER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A SELF-SUPPORTING ASHTRAY CONSTRUCTION FOR SELECTIVE RESILIENT ATTACHMENT WITH A TUBULAR MEMBER, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: A TRAY ELEMENT HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FRUSTO-CONICAL PERIPHERAL WALL, SAID WALL INCLUDING AN UPPER RIM PORTION AND AN OUTER SURFACE; A RESILIENT BRACKET ELEMENT INCLUDING MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID BRACKET MEMBER HAVING A THROUGH OPENING THEREIN; A SPACER ELEMENT HAVING A GENERALLY PLANAR MAIN BODY MEMBER OF RECTANGULAR CONFIGURATION, AND HAVING FIRST AND SECOND SET OF PROJECTIONS EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY OF THE PLANE OF SAID PLANAR MEMBER, RESILIENT WASHER MEANS, AND FASTENING MEANS GENERATING SAID TRAY ELEMENT, BRACKET ELEMENT, SPACER ELEMENT AND WASHER; WHEREBY THE PROJECTIONS ON SAID SPACER ELEMENT ENGAGE THE OUTER SURFACE AND RIM PORTION OF SAID TRAY ELEMENT, AND SAID WASHER ELEMENT IS POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID SPACER ELEMENT AND SAID BRACKET ELEMEMT TO PERMIT RELATIVE ROTATION BETWEEN SAID TRAY ELEMENT AND SAID BRACKET ELEMENT. 